1774 in Scotland

Law officers • Lord Advocate – James Montgomery • Solicitor General for Scotland – Henry Dundas Judiciary • Lord President of the Court of Session – Lord Arniston, the younger • Lord Justice General – Duke of Queensberry • Lord Justice Clerk – Lord Barskimming == Events ==

• 27 June – foundation stone of General Register House in Edinburgh, designed by Robert Adam, is laid; the building will not be opened until 1788. • Dundas House in New Town, Edinburgh, designed by William Chambers, is completed. • Punitive laws against the Clan Gregor are repealed. • Roman Catholic chapel built on the site that will become St Peter's Church, Aberdeen. • The Schiehallion experiment is carried by Nevil Maskelyne out to determine the mean density of the Earth. == Births ==

• 24 February – Archibald Constable, publisher (died 1827) • 26 February – William Farquhar, soldier and administrator in the East India Company (died 1839) • 3 June – Robert Tannahill, weaver poet (died 1810) • 8 October – Henry Duncan, (Free) Church of Scotland minister, geologist and social reformer; founder of the savings bank movement (died 1846) • 4 November – Robert Allan, weaver poet (died 1841 in New York) • 8 November – Robert Reid, royal architect (died 1856) • 12 November – Charles Bell, anatomist (died 1842 in England) • 24 November – Thomas Dick, Secession Church minister and scientist (died 1857) • Robert Thom, hydraulic engineer (died 1847) == Deaths ==

• 19 January – Thomas Gillespie, Presbyterian minister (born 1708) • 16 October – Robert Fergusson, Scottish poet (born 1750; died in bedlam following head injury) ==The arts==

• During this year's harvest, 15-year-old farm labourer Robert Burns is assisted by his contemporary Nelly Kilpatrick who inspires his first attempt at poetry, "O, Once I Lov'd A Bonnie Lass". == Sport ==

• Musselburgh Golf Club established on Levenhall Links and the Old Club Cup is played for the first time. == See also ==